was
struck dead with lightning, and the sepoys, from this cause, becoming
unmanageable, he was obliged to return to Patna. Meeran's people
hastened to Moorshedabad, where, in order to obtain payment of their
arrears, they surrounded the palace, and threatened the life of the
nabob Meer Jaffier. Other bodies of men, also, about the same time, took
up arms against Meer Jaffier: and to complete his misfortunes, as Mr.
Vansittart, the new governor at Calcutta, found the treasury empty,
and the English troops and sepoys almost mutinous for want of pay, he
concluded a treaty with Meer Cassim Ali, son-in-law to Meer Jaffier and
general of his army, engaging that he should be invested with full power
as Nabob of Bengal, Bahar, and Orissa, on condition that he made over
the fruitful provinces of Burdwan, Midnapore, and Chittagong to the
company. Meer Jaffier was compelled to resign, with permission to retire
to Calcutta, and Meer Cossim Ali was forthwith proclaimed nabob. Meer
Cossim procured six or seven lacs of rupees, which he sent to Calcutta,
and made professions of dependence on the council; but he soon exhibited
signs of a refractory spirit; and Mr. Vansittart, with the other members
of the council, found that they had made a mistake, when they imagined
that he would suit their purpose better than Meer Jaffier.

It has been seen, that in the month of January, 1761, Major Carnac, who
had succeeded Colonel Calliaud in the command of the company's troops in
Bahar, defeated the emperor Shah Alum, and took Law, on whom he placed
his chief hopes, prisoner. The young emperor retreated towards Delhi,
whence he sent Meer Cossim Ali his investiture as Nabob of Bengal,
Bahar, and Orissa; and likewise offers to the English of the dewannee,
or receivership of these provinces, if they would send an army into
central India to secure him in possession of Delhi, and of a throne that
had been tottering for generations. Want of money prevented the council
from accepting these offers, and Meer Cossim had no more to give them.
Meer Cossim had, indeed, become as poor as Meer Jaffier had been when
he was deposed, and he cast his eyes on the wealth of Ramnarrain, the
celebrated Governor of Patna, At first, Mr. Vansittart instructed
Major Carnac to protect Ramnarrain, but he soon after listened to
the suggestions and promises of Meer Cossim; and in order to aid his
rapacious designs, Colonel Coote, the conqueror of Pondicherry, was sent
to super